EXHIBIT 5.01


                                  May 25, 1999



(949) 451-3800                                                     C 80253-00038


Salem Communications Corporation
4880 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 300
Camarillo, CA  93012

Ladies and Gentlemen :

        We have acted as counsel to Salem Communications Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), of the sale in an
underwritten public offering of up to 6,000,000 authorized but unissued shares
of the Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company (the "Company Shares"), and up to 2,625,000 shares of Common Stock
issued to certain selling stockholders (the "Outstanding Shares"). This opinion
is delivered to you in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1,
Registration No. 333-76649, as amended to date (the "Registration Statement"),
for the aforementioned sales, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") under the 1933 Act.

        In rendering the opinion set forth herein, we have made such
investigations of fact and law, and examined such documents and instruments, or
copies thereof established to our satisfaction to be true and correct copies
thereof, as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances.

        Based upon the foregoing and such other examination of law and fact as
we have deemed necessary, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that,
subject to such proceedings as are now contemplated being duly taken and
completed by you prior to the issuance of the Company Shares, the issuance of an
appropriate order by the Commission declaring the Registration Statement, as
amended, effective, and the compliance with applicable state securities and
"blue sky" laws, (i) the Company Shares have been duly authorized and will, upon
sale and delivery thereof and receipt by the Company of full payment therefor as
set forth in the Registration Statement, be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and (ii) the Outstanding Shares are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.



                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
                                            --------------------------------
                                                Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

TDM/TJF